Knitting machine



Oct. 15, 1935. c. WARREN 2,017,082

KNITTING MACHINE I Filed Jan. 13, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct...15, 1935. c. WARREN 2,017,032

' KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED. STATES PATENT on-" ce as Claims. (or 56-153) This invention pertains to knitting machines. In its more general aspects it relates to fabric take-up devices for such machines, whether of which tends to distort the structure of the fabric to some extent and thus change its appearance,

and when the fabric is of tubular form, as produced by a circular machine, it is evident that when collapsed between the rolls-the distance between the circularly arranged series of needles and the bight of the take-up rolls differs from point to point so that' truly uniform tension is out of the question. While such take-up rolls may 25 be acceptable in knitting relatively coarse or inelastic fabrics, the harshness of action and the inequalities in tension produced by this method of take-up become very noticeable when knitting highly elastic fabric, particularly in large diam- 30 eters, and especially when knitting fabric in which elastic or rubber threads are incorporated. Such highly elastic fabric has recently become of considerable importance in the manufacture of formsupportingof so-called foundation garments or the like, but when such extremely stretchy and elastic fabric is drawn off from the needles by the usual roller take-up, the fabric texture is visibly different from point to point circumferentially of the tube. The finished diameter of the 40 fabric web is varied by varying the tension of the elastic thread which is fed into the forming fabric, but as the length of the usual take-up rolls is 1 limited relatively to the diameter of the machine,

it is not possible to take up fabric closely approx- 45 imating the full circumference of the needle cylinder.

v Among the objects of the present invention is to provide fabric take-up means adapted to exert I substantially uniform tensiontransversely of the 50 knitted web (that is to say, circumferentially of the web if the latter be tubular) and which is adapted to act upon a web of substantially the full width or circumference of the machine as well as webs of lesser width or circumference and 65 to exert substantially continuous tension as contrasted with the. intermittent tensions often employed, but without injuriously stretching, crushing or unduly compressing the material, or otherwise injuring it as by tearing or local distortion such asis produced by the use of pins, hooks or 5 other elements which have sometimes been proposed as substitutes for the usual take-up rolls.

It has long been recognized that in knitting ribbed fabric upon a circular machine the pressure of the fabric between the usual dial driving dogs produces a visible line longitudinally of the fabric, and various expedients have been resorted to for avoiding this defect, but so far as is known to me none of such previous devices is wholly adequate to avoid this damage to the fabric when the latter includes highly elastic yarn such as rubber yarn. Thus a further object of the invention is to eliminate such defects as are produced by passing the fabric between the usual dialdogs, and to this end I take advantage of certain elements associated with my improved take-up mechanism to support dial driving means in such relation to the fabric as to avoid all injury to the latter.

In the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated one desirable embodiment of the invention' by way of example, 7

Fig. .1 is a fragmentary vertical section of so much of a circular rib knitting machine, as is necessary to illustrate the application of my invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating a detail of, the actuating mechanism; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 2.

, Referring to the drawings, the numeral I designates the baseor lower part of the. supporting frame of the machine, such basecarrying the upright frame 2, which, if desired, may be a con- 4 tinuous cylinder 01 which preferably consists of .a plurality of spaced legs or web members connected at their upper ends by the flange 2 This flange in turn supports the ring 2 from which project the posts 3 supporting the spider l hav- .ing the central hub 4 in which the'stationary central post 5 is mounted.

The ring 2 also supports the bearing ring on which the lower flange! of the needle cylind'er l rotates, such flange 1 being provided with I the usual gear I which meshes with the usual driving pinion (not shown). The needlecyllnder 1*, which, may be integral with or carried by the flange I, is provided with needle grooves for needles which are actuated in the usual way by cams carried by the cam ring 8 which is suitably supported in fixed position by the frame of the machine. The central post 5 is provided with a. supporting bearing 9 for the hub I0 of a dial l0 which has the usual radial slots for the reception of the dial needles which are actuated by cams mounted in the cam ring I I, the latter being fixed to the post 5. The needles of the cylinder and dial cooperating in well known manner to produce a ribbed tubular web l2 which extends downwardly in substantially concentric relation to the post 5. In knitting fabrics incorporating elastic or rubber threads, as above referred to, such'threads are fed into the forming edge of the fabric in well known manner and extend substantially parallel to the courses of knitted loops, the tension with which the elastic thread is fed determining to some extent at least the diameter of the finished tube- In accordance with the present invention I provide supporting means l3 secured to'the under side of the needle cylinder flange l and turning with the latter, such supporting means, if desired, consisting of a continuous cylinder or, in a preferred construction, comprising a plurality of spaced webs or legs extending downwardly and united at their lower ends by a continuous circular flange l4. This fiange, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2, is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced radial guide slots l5 which receive complemental portions of slidable brush holders l6. "These brush holders may be adjusted in or out to' cooperate with fabric of different diameters and are held in radially adjusted position by means of the pin and slot plush or velvet, or even an abrasive friction surface such as produced by a pad covered with sandpaper or the like, it being noted that the primary purpose of the brush element in any case is to engage the knitted fabric frictionally so as to grip the same in exerting downward tension. While, as above suggested, I may use other devices than bristles, I prefer bristles of substantial length in view of their resiliency and non-positive action.

The dial II] is provided with a support 20 corresponding to the support l3 above described, and this support 20 may likewise take the form of a continuous cylinder terminating,for example, at the point 2|, or may-consist of a series of spaced webs or legs, preferably united at their lower ends by a continuous web or flange. The supporting member 20 carries a series of circumferentially spaced, downwardly directed and substantially parallel guides 22 which preferably are secured (by bolts 23 or equivalent means and at points somewhat spaced from their lower ends) to a continuous ring 24, such ring, as here shown, constituting the circumferential flange of a spider having radial arms 25 projecting from a.

central hub '25 arranged to turn freely on the lower end 'of the post 5.

Each of the vertical guides 22 carries a vertically reciprocating brush holder 26, each brush holder being furnished with a brush '2! preferably of the same type as the brush l9, the parts preferably being so arranged that a brush 26 of the inner series is directly opposed to a brush I9 5 I gaging members which slide on the guides 22,

the adjustment being furnished by pin and slot connections 28 and 29 and permitting the distance of the brush holder from the center of the 15 machine to be varied at will for cooperation with fabric of different diameters, or to compensate for wear of the brushes.

I provide each of the reciprocating brush holders 26 with means normally tending to move it 20 downwardly, such means in its preferred form consisting of a spring 30 (preferably of considerable length so that it exerts substantially uniform tension) anchored at its upper end ,to the brush holder and at its lower end to an adjusting screw 25 3| carried by a bracket 32 secured to the lower end of the corresponding guide 22, although I contemplate the use of weights or other equivalents of the springs.

For raising the brush holders 26 at the proper 3 times in opposition to their springs 30, I preferably provide each brush holder 26 with a cam 33 (Fig. 3), such cam preferably having a gradual incline 33 at its leading end and a relatively abrupt portion 33 at its trailing end. The cams 3 33 corresponding to the several brush holders 26 are arranged to engage a cam actuating roll 34 mounted to turn freely upon a stub shaft 35 carried by a bracket 36 fixedly secured, as by set screws 31, to the fixed central post 5. 40

In accordance with the present invention I preferably mount a bracket 38 upon the flange or ring l4 at a point intermediate a pair of adjacent slots l5, such bracket being provided with a horizontal guideway for a reciprocating cutter carrier 39 arranged to reciprocate in a horizontal path at a point substantially midway between two of the brushes I9. At its inner end this cutter carrier is provided with means for holding a cutter blade 40. If desired, this blade may be a 50 safety razor blade, and the holding means preferably provides for removal and replacement of such blade, it being noted that the cutting edge of the blade is directed upwardly and extends transversely across the fabric web and, as here 55 shown, is disposed substantially midway of the vertical height of the tensioning brushes, which, as illustrated, are preferably of substantial length vertically, that isto say, longitudinally of the fabric. a 60 The bracket 38 'is provided with a downwardly directed portion 4| providing a bearing for a vertical shaft 42 having a crank pin or eccentric 43 at its upper end engaging-a block arranged to slide in a transverse slot in the under side of a 65 widened portion 44 of the cutter carrier 39, the parts being so arrange'd that rotation of the shaft 43 reciprocates the cutter carrier 39 in its bearings in the bracket 38. The lower end of the shaft 42 is provided with 'a pinion 45 which meshes with an idler pinion 4G turning upon a stub shaft 46 -the pinion 46 meshing with a fixed annular gear-41 carried by the member .I. Thus, asthe 'needle cylinder rotates, the pinions 46 and 45 are caused to rotate,-thereby driving the shaft 42 and TJ 35 speed as the needle cylinder.

reciprocating the cutter blade 40 so as to sever the web at a point substantially .below that at.

which the tensioning action produced by the brushes I9 and 21 is begun.

5 In accordance with the present invention 1 provide an arcuate-shap'ed bracket 48 (Fig. 2) having upstanding web portions 49 (Figs. 2 and 4) adjacent to its ends, the web portions being secured by screws 49 to the ring I4 which-is at- ,l tached'to the flange l4, said ring carrying the stub shaft 46, above described. The bracket has an inwardly directed arm 50 providedwith a hub 50 which turns freely upon the post 5. The arm 50 isv furnished with spaced upstanding 15 brackets and 52, preferably furnished with oppositely directed adjusting screws 53 and 54, respectively, which receive between them one of the arms 25 above described, it being recalled that the arms 25 are secured to the ring 24,

' 20 which in turn is connected by the bolts 2: to the guides 22 carried by the dial Ill.

' The operation of the machine is substantially as follows: Assuming that the flange I is rotated by the usual drive pinion, the needle cylin- 25 der and the supporting member l3 are likewise rotated, thus causing the part M to rotate and carrying the cutter bodily around with the knitted web. As the web descends from the needles,

thecutter 40 is reciprocated and slits the web 30- longitudinally so as to permit the cut edges to pass downwardly at opposite sides of the arm 50. The latter thus enters within the knitted tube, and its adjusting screws 53 and 54, by engagement with the arm 25, drive the dial I 0 at the same I Theadjusting screws 53 and 54 permit a nice adjustm nt of the dial with reference to the cylinder so as to bring the-dial needles into proper relation with the cylinder needlesj w 40 As the cylinder and dial rotate and the knitted web moves downwardly, the latter passes between the inner series of brushes 21 and the outer series of brushes l9, and as each brush carrier 26 passes the cam actuating roll 34, such carrier is lifted by engagement of the cam surface 33 with the roll, thus moving the brush 2] upwardly along the knitted web while the opposed outer stationary brush l9 holds the web down. When the abrupt shoulder 33 of the cam passesby the roll 34, the spring 30 becomes active, tending to draw the brush carrier 25 downwardly. During the early part of this downward movement, or if the' spring be suficiently tensloned, the bristles 21 may sweep over and stroke the knitted fabric- 55 downwardly, thereby tending to tension it and to move it downwardly. with reference to the stationary brush bristles l9. However, as here shown, the bristles preferably are. inclined-in a downward direction, and as the elevated brush carrier is released from the cam roll, these resilient inclined bristles frictionally grip and cling to the fabric or even penetrate it, sothat instead of descending suddenLv, the brush holder moves slowly down with the descending fabric, imposing a drag thereon. Thus, each inner brush may be made to exert localized tension upon its. particular section of the web substantially from the time of its release from the cam roll 34 until it is again elevated. It is to be noted that with the arrangement shown,only one of the brushes 21 is moved upwardly at a time, so that the other inner brushes are 'tensioning the fabric all around the circumference of the tube except at this one point,- and- 7 even at this point it is held down by the corresponding outer brush. As each brush 21 is moved up and then down once during each rotation of the needle cylinder, it is evident that the tensioning action is almost continuous, so that an extremely uniform tension is produced, although 5 without any tendency whatever to injure or distort the web. Obviously, if desired, and as above 'suggested,'more than one cam actuating roll 34 might be provided so as simultaneously to brush the web downwardly at a plurality of points, but

I find that a single cam actuating roll is sufficient for most purposes. As already suggested, both sets or either set of brushes may be arranged to reciprocate, as preferred, the necessary changes in construction to permit such modification being obvious. The arrangement abovedescribed has been fcund extremely useful in'the knitting of fabrics in which rubber threads are incorporated, and produces a fabric which is devoid of the irregularities commonly resulting from take-up I action or that of the dial-driving devices, a result which has not been obtained heretofore so far as is known to me.

While I have herein disclosed certain desirable arrangements of parts, I wish it to be understood that the invention is not limited to this specific construction, but that various changes in size and proportion of parts-the substitution of equivalent parts, and the substitution of materials,may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that while the invention has been illustrated by way of example in connection with a circular rib knitting machine, it may be equally useful in connection with knitting machines of all other types. 7 35 I claim:

1. Fabric take-up mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising a series'of reciprocating elements, means operative to reciprocate said elements longitudinally of the web one after another 40 in orderly sequence, and a fabric gripping brush carried by each reciprocable element, said brushes being operative to slip freely over the web as the reciprocable element rises but frictionally to grip the web as said element descends.

2. Fabric take-up mechanism for knitting machines comprising a brush having bristles disranged transversely of the width of the. knitted fabric, and means for moving the several brushing devices successively to cause them to'stretch the fabric longitudinally.

5. Fabric take-up mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising two series of resilient friction members, the members of one series 'engaging the inner surface of the tubular web and the members of the other series engaging the outer surface of the tubular weband means for moving the friction members of one series at least,

one afterrthe other, in orderly sequence longitudinally of the web.

6. Fabric take-up mechanisn for knitting machines comprising a pair of ristle brushes 'd'isposed at opposite sides of the fabric web, emits means operative to cause the bristles of one brush at least to urge the fabric in a longitudinal direction.

7. Fabric take-up mechanism for knitting ma- 5 chines comprising a pair ,of brushes disposed at opposite sides of the fabric respectively, and means for reciprocating one at least of the brushes lengthwise of the fabric'whereby to tension the fabric longitudinally.

8. Fabric take-up mechanism for knitting machines comprising a pair of bristle brushes disposed at opposite sides respectively of the fabric web, the bristles of the brushes. being inclined downwardly, and means for reciprocating one at least of the brushes lengthwise of the web whereby to tension the fabric longitudinally.

9. Fabric take-up mechanism for knitting machines comprising a reciprocable member provided with a plurality of resilient fabric engaging bristles, said bristles being inclined downwardly in the direction of fabric movement, and means for reciprocating said member longitudinally of the fabric web whereby to cause said resilient bristles to urge the fabric longitudinally as the reciprocable member moves downwardly,

said bristles riding over the surface of the fabric as the reciprocable member moves upwardly.

10. Fabric take-up mechanism for knitting machines comprising a series of bristle brushes extend ng transversely of the fabric at one side thereof, a second series of brush-es disposed at the opposite side of the fabric, and means for reciprocating the brushes of one series at least longitudinally of the fabric.

11. Fabric take-up mechanism for knitting machines comprising a series of bristle brushes extending transversely of the fabric at one side thereof, a second series of brushes disposed at the opposite side of the fabric, and means operative to 49 move the brushes of one series at least, in one direction and in succession, longitudinally of the fabric, and means normally tending to move said brushes in the opposite direction.

12. A circular knitting machine comprising a 45 cylinder and" dial, and means rotating with the cylinder and dial for imparting substantially uniform tension to the tubular knitted web throughout the circumference of the latter, said tensioning means comprising a circumferentially extend- 5 ing series of web gripping devices, and means for reciprocating the several devices longitudinally of the web in orderly sequence, one afterthe other.

13. A circular knitting machine, said machine comprising. acylinder and dial, a series of tensioning devices each having resilient web engaging parts forapplying localized tension to the web at a series of points extending substantially throughout the entire circumference of the web 60 and means for actuating the several tensioning 'devices in orderly sequence, one after the other.

14. A circular knitting machine comprising a cylinder and dial, and groups of resilient elements extending in 'series circumferentially of the 65 knitted web, each group being operative to exert localized downward tension upon the web at points spaced about the entire circumference of the latter and means for actuating the several groups in orderly sequence, one after the other.

70' 15. 'A circular knitting machine comprising a cylinder and dial, and brushes, each having resil ient bristles, arranged in series circumferentially of the knitted web, the bristles of each brush engaging the fabric web with resilient downwardly 75 directed pressure operative to tension the fabric.

16. Fabric take-up mechanism for a circular knitting machine comprising fabric tensioning members arranged in a series extending circumferentially of the tubular knitted fabric, each of said members having resilient friction ele- 5 ments engageable with the fabric, and means operative to move each tensioning member of the series, one after the other in predetermined sequence, to position its resilient friction elements in engagement with a fresh area of the fabric 10 while maintaining other members of the series substantially stationary relative to the fabric.

17. Fabric take-up mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising fabric engaging bristle brushes arranged in a series extending cirl5 cumferentially of the tubular knitted web, and means for moving said brushes in succession to cause their bristles to urge the fabric longitudinally.

18. Fabric take-up mechanism for circular 20 knitting machines comprising fabric engaging brushes arranged in a series extending circumferentially of the knitted web, means supporting each of said brushes for independent movement lengthwise of the webs, and means for moving each 25 brush of the series at intervals longitudinally of the web and relatively to adjacent brushes.

19. Fabric take-up mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising fabric engaging brushes arranged in a series extending circumfer- 30 entially of the tubular knitted Web, and means for reciprocating successive brushes of the series longitudinally. of the knitted web, while keeping adjacent brushessubstantially stationary.

20. Fabric take-up mechanism for use in a cir- 35 cular knitting machine comprising fabric engaging brushes arranged in a series extending circumferentially of the knitted web, means supporting each'brush to reciprocate longitudinally of the fabric independent of other brushes, a sec- 40 ond series of brushes also extending circumferentially of the knitted web but disposed at the opposite side thereof, each brush of one series being disposed substantially opposite to a brush of the other series, and means for reciprocating the brushes of the oneseries relatively to those of the other series.

21. A circular knitting machine of the' kind having a rotating needle cylinder and a dial, a circumferentially extending series of fabric engaging brushes arranged to engage the outer side of the knitted tubular web, a second circumferentially extending series-of brushes arranged to engage the inner side of the knitted tubular web, guides for one at least of said series of brushes, 65 said guides supporting their brushes for reciprocation lengthwise of the fabric,.and means operative to move the brushes carried by said guides as the cylinder and dial rotate; whereby to cause successive brushes to urge the fabric longitudinally.

22. A circular knitting machine of the kind having a rotating needle cylinder and a dial, supporting means moving with the needle cylinder, a

- circumferentially extending series offabric holddown devices carried by s'aid'supporting means and arranged to engage the outer side of the knitted tubular web, a circumferentially arranged series of guides depending from the dial, a brush holder mounted on each guide for reciprocation axially of the needle cylinder, a series of brushes arranged to engage the inner surface of the fabric tube, each of said latter brushes being carried by one of said-brush holders, and means operative to move the brush holders longitudinally of the fabric tube.

23. A circular knitting machine having a rotating needle cylinder and dial, a support coaxial with and connected to the under side of the dial, a circumferentially extending series of guides depending from said support, means uniting the lower ends of said guides, a brush holder member mounted oneach guide to reciprocate axially of the needle cylinder, a cam carried by each brush holder, an actuating member normally stationary as respects the rotational movement of the dial and engageable successively with the cams of the respective brush holders whereby to raise such brush holders successively, means for moving each brush holder downwardly when its cam is disengaged from the actuating member, and a brush carried byeach brush holder, each brush comprising bristles engaging the inner surface of the knitted tube.

24. A circularknitting machine having a rotating needle cylinder and dial, asupport coaxial with and connected to the under side of the dial, a circumferentially extending series of guides depending from said support, a brush holder mounted on each guide to reciprocate axially ofthe needle cylinder, a cam secured to each brush holder, a fixed bracket, a cam actuating roll supported by said bracket in position to engage success-ive brush holder cams as the dial rotates and to lift the brush holders successively, a spring secured to each brush holder for exerting the downward pull on the brush holder when its cam is disengaged from the roll, and a brush carried by each brush holder.

'25. A circular knitting machine having a rotating needle cylinder-and dial,'a support coaxial with and connected to the under side of the dial, a circumferentially extending series of guides depending from said support, a spider uniting the lower ends of said guides, means carried by the guides for tensioning the fabric web, means for slitting the fabric web, and means moving with the needle cylinder and extending through the slit formed in the web for engagement with a part of said spider whereby to drive the dial.

26. A circular knitting machine having a rotat ing needle cylinder'and dial, a support coaxialwith and connected to the under side of the dial, a circumferentially extending series of guides depending from said support, fabric tensioning means carried by the guides, fabric slitting means disposed to slit the fabric at a point in the field of action of the tensioning means, an arm secured to the needle cylinder and arranged to extend through the slit formed in the fabric by the slitting means, and an adjustable stop carried by said arm and engageable with a part fixed with reference to the dial for driving the dial concomitantly 'th the cylinder.

27. A circular knitting machine having a rotating needle cylinder and dial, fabric tensioning means arranged to exertsubstantially uniform tension upon the fabric throughout the circumference thereof, and fabric slitting means disposed in the field of action of said tensioning means, said slitting means comprising a cutter blade reciprocating in a path transverse of the web of knitted fabric, and means for reciprocating said cutter blade.

28. A circular knitting machine having a rotary cylinder and dial and means for. slitting the tubular knitted web comprising guide. means carried by the needle cylinder, a blade carrier reciprocating in said guide means, a blade mounted shaft, means for turning the pinion as the cylinder rotates, and means carried by the reciprocating the blade carrier.

29. A circular knitting machine having a rotary c-ylinderand dial and means for slitting the tubular knitted web comprising guide means carried by theneedle cylinder, a blade carrier reciprocating in said guide means, a'blade mounted on said carrier to reciprocate in a path transverse of the knitted web, a shaft mounted in bearings carried by the cylinder, a pinion on the shaft, means for turning the shaft comprising a fixed annular gear concentric with the needle cylinder, and a crank on the shaft engaging a part of the blade carrier for reciprocating the latter as the cylinder rotates.

30. A circular knitting machine having a rotating cylinder and dial and means for slitting the knitted web comprising guide means carried by the cylinder, 9. blade carrier reciprocating in said guide means, a stationary gear concentric with the needle cylinder, andmeans actuated by said gear as the cylinder rotates for reciprocating the blade carrier.

31. A circular knitting machine comprising a cylinder and dial, fabric tensioning means arranged below the lower end of the needle cylinder and comprising a circumferentially extendshaft for ing series of brushes carried by the cylinder and' engaging the outer surface of the fabric, a second series of brushes carried-by the dial and engaging the inner surface of the fabric, means for causing some at least of the brushes to urge the fabric downwardly as the cylinder rotates, fabric slitting means arranged to slit the fabric at a point within the field of action of the brushes, and means extending through the slit in the fabric produced by such slitting means for causing the dial and cylinder to rotate in unison.

32. That method of tensioning a knitted web as it is producedby the needles of a knitting machine which comprises exerting longitudinal ten- 4 sioning pull upon a portion of the fabric, less than a full knitted course in transverse extent, by means of a bristle brush while leaving an ad-, jacent portion of the fabric substantially untensioned, and shifting the position of the tensioned gaging independent devices, each having resiliently yielding friction elements, with the fabric at such points, and, as the fabric grows, moving said devices of the series, one after another in orderly sequence, toward the knitting point and re-engaging their resiliently yielding friction elements with the fabric.

34. That method of tensioning a knitted web as itis produced by the needles of a knitting ma-. chine which comprises exerting localized pull upon the fabric by engagement of a bristle brush with the fabric at each of a series of points -extendin transversely of the fabric, moving a selected one of said brushes in the longitudinal direction of the fabric toward the knitting point while maintaining other brushes in substantially fixed holding relation to the fabric, causing said selected chines comprising two series of friction members,

each series extending in the direction of the courses of knitted stitches comprising the fabric, the members of one series engaging one face of the fabric and the members of the other series engaging the other face of the fabric and means for moving the members of one series, at least, one after the other, in orderly sequence,'longitudinally of the fabric, said members being provided with fabric engaging means operative frictionally to cling to thefabric while the members are moving away from the knitting point.

36. A take-up mechanism for circular knitting machines, comprising a plurality of circularly arranged pairs .of yielding brushes which encircle the tubular fabric, the pairs being so arranged that of each pair one contacts with the inner surface and the other with the outer surface of the knitted fabric tube, and positive operating means for maintaining the series of elements which engage the fabric on the same. side thereof in a ,chines the combination comprising fabric tensioning means which frictionally engage the tubular fabric at a plurality of points about its circumference to uniformly tension and take-up the fabric as it is knitted, and means for slitting the tensioned fabric tube comprising a cutting edge mounted for reciprocation across the path of the fabric, and positively operated means for reciprocating the said cutting edge while the tensioned fabric is drawn thereagainst in the operation of the take-up mechanism,

38. A fabric take-up device for knitting machines comprising opposing fabric engaging elements which frictionally grip the fabric on opposite sides thereof throughout its entire width, one of said elements comprising a series of movable units individually reciprocable longitudinally of the fabric, a spring connected to each of said units tending to move the same relatively to the opposed surface of the cooperating element in a direction to tension the fabric and means for successively moving each of said units in the opposite direction against the spring bias as the fabric is taken up.

CARLE'I'ON WARREN. 

